2016 - CHAdeMO standard dies. Design refresh with Frankenplug. 28kWh battery pack, different module format. $800 price increase. Previous model year with old 24kWh pack produced parallel to refreshed model as "2016 Nissan LEAF Select" until they use up all of the old batteries, $1000 price drop on the "Select".

2016 - CHAdeMO standard dies. Design refresh with Frankenplug. 28kWh battery pack, different module format. $800 price increase. Previous model year with old 24kWh pack produced parallel to refreshed model as "2016 Nissan LEAF Select" until they use up all of the old batteries, $1000 price drop on the "Select".

2020 - SpaceX mines unobtainium from asteroids, game changer ultra capacitor is unveiled using new material. No degradation. Low self-discharge. Resilient in all climates. 5-minute recharging. Double the capacity and half the cost of traditional batteries. Tesla gets exclusive rights to technology.

2025 - Tesla buys Google.

Pretty good predictions. Model 3/E still slated for 2017, but that's an EM prediction, lol. $42,000 is probably what buyers will be paying in 2018. You missed the Bolt, but no one saw that one coming so fast. I wish they'd dump CHAdeMO, maybe for gen 2. The Bolt seems like it will force the gen 2 to show up in late 2017, maybe with a 40KWH battery. They won't have commercial quantities of unobtainium until at least 2024 however, lol.

I would be very happy with a 40 KWH battery. I'd be ready to take a break by the time a 40 KWH battery needed charge anyhoo. I hate having to stop long before I need a break. For a very long trip the time spent charging is going to be largely determined by the QC charge rate, assuming plenty of available, convenient L3 stations. The 40 KWH battery will greatly improve the inconvenient spacing of the L3 stations I have suffered with while touring.

Based on my experience touring with the 24 KWH LEAF, I think we really need a battery TMS. The battery gets scary hot on a 200+ mile trip in summer even in the NE.